[CTSARA] Hams Needed for Bloomin Metric Bicycle Ride

[Jon Perelstein]

We still need a few operators for the Bloomin Metric charity bicycle ride
on Sunday May 31.  The start time will be around 7am (0700 hrs) and we can
expect to be operating until about 2pm (1400 hrs) with some people shutting
down by 1pm (1300 hrs) and a few hanging on until about 3pm (1500 hrs).

SARA and GNARC have always provided support for the Bloomin, and I hope
that Fairfield will join us this year.  The Bloomin Metric will have over
2500 registered riders and raises funds for a number of charities in
southwestern CT including the Bennett Cancer Center/Stamford Hospital Hope
In Motion event.  The Hope In Motion event was merged into the Bloomin
Metric last year in part through our (ham radio) efforts and Hope In Motion
was able to net considerably more from bicycle riding than it had been able
to net operating on its own.

Coverage of the Bloomin is a joint project of the clubs in the area.  We
are going to need at least 15 operators total, so please do what you can to
participate.  If you can't participate from 7am to 2pm, please contact me
because we can probably accommodate you for whatever hours you can give us.

Last year we did some interesting technology stuff with an on-the-fly
cross-band repeater and this year we going to try to incorporate DMR into
our toolkit.

Many of the coverage positions will be mobile in vehicles supplied by the
event - so the people providing mobile support will need to be able to move
their radio and antenna into/onto the event vehicles.  All mobile stations
will need at least 25 watts (50 watt radios preferred) with externally
mounted 1/4 wave or 1/2 wave antennas (mag mount).  People at the rest
stops will need at least 25 watt radios with decent antennas - for example,
something mounted on your car.

We have some spare radios between the two clubs, so if all you have is an
HT but want to participate, we may be able to arrange it.

Please contact me ASAP if you would like to participate.

73s
Jon, WB2RYV